Royal Escape #3: Royal Escape, #3

By Renna Peak and Ember Casey

Nicholas has created a new life for himself in Montana, but that life is dependent on his new identity as a royal Prince of Montovia remaining a secret - even as things begin heating up between him and his enticing ranch manager, Clara. Now that the truth might be out, he has everything to lose. And he's faced with a choice - how far will he go to protect the man he's become?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Casey Peak Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Jul 6, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386163923

Book preview

Clara

Istare at the strangers standing in Nick’s kitchen.

They’re not complete strangers, I guess—at least, I know who they are. Most of the world does. Pax Donovan is one of the biggest rock stars in the world. And last year, he married Princess Sophia of Montovia in the midst of a wild, public romance that occupied the tabloids for months. They’re both stunning in person—Pax, with his shaved head and arms of tattoos, has been the object of many women’s fantasies, and Sophia, with her dark, wavy hair and bright eyes, is even more beautiful than she looks in pictures.

But I’m still trying to grasp why they’re here, of all places. And then Princess Sophia’s last words sink in.

She said she was Nick’s sister.

I glance up at Nick. He looks as stunned as I feel. But not confused. He actually knows these people. He’s actually…

Sophia has four older brothers, but only some of them have spent as much time in the tabloids as she has. I’d probably only recognize a couple in person, but most of the world knows their names. Andrew, Leopold, William, and…

Nicholas, I say, the pieces falling into place. "That’s your real name, isn’t it? You’re a fucking prince?" It’s all starting to make sense—the strange accent he slips into when he’s not paying attention, his rigid formality, his secrecy about where he comes from. It all makes sense.

He turns to me, but he doesn’t immediately say anything. I can only stare at him, too shocked to go on.

Beside us, Pax laughs. Must be a common thing in this family. Sophia didn’t tell me who she was when we first met, either. She was pretending to be an assistant.

Princess Sophia shoots her husband a look that’s half affectionate, half exasperated. "You know why I did that, she says. And anyway, it doesn’t matter now. Nick, aren’t you going to introduce us to your…friend?"

Nick starts. Yes, of course. Sophia, this is Clara Weaver. She… He clears his throat. She’s my ranch manager. She works for me.

Ah, so that’s how it is? I think. Just an employee. Not even his ‘friend.’ Who cares what just happened between us in that cabin? But I don’t know why I’m surprised. He’s a prince. A prince! Out here in the middle of Montana pretending to be a cowboy. And sleeping with the random woman who showed up out of nowhere and demanded a job.

My cheeks are blazing—I’m not sure if it’s from embarrassment or anger—but I plaster on a smile and stick out my hand toward Princess Sophia. Nice to meet you, Your Highness. I hesitate with my fingers extended. Am I supposed to bow?

She smiles warmly at me and shakes her head. God, no. And call me Sophia. She shakes my hand.

As soon as she releases my fingers, Pax extends his hand, too. Nice to meet you, Clara.

Why are the two of you here? Nick demands, sounding even more irritable than usual. I told you I wished to be left alone.

We were worried about you, Sophia says. You haven’t returned any messages in weeks. Our mother was starting to get concerned.

I promised I’d contact the family if there was any news of great importance, Nick replies. In the meantime, I was trying to appreciate a little peace and quiet.

You said you’d check in weekly, and you haven’t done that in a month. Sophia crosses her arms. You can get some ‘peace and quiet’ without dropping off the face of the earth, you know. Did you really think Mother and Father were just going to let you disappear?

At least I’m not the only one he’s lied to these past few weeks. But I’m not about to let him off the hook. He’s a prince. A fucking prince! I know Nick and his sister have some things they need to work out, but I have questions, too. Lots of them.

How long were you going to hide this from me? I demand. And what is a prince doing all the way out here?

He finally meets my eyes. You were the one who proposed that agreement about keeping our pasts private.

This is obviously not your past, I point out. And this is a hell of a lot different than refusing to tell me where you went to college. This is… Honestly, it feels a lot like betrayal. Ten minutes ago, I was happier than I’ve been in a long time—free of my old life, building a new one in a beautiful place. Finally connecting with someone new. But my exciting new life out here suddenly looks less like a beautiful escape and more like a complete illusion. I thought I’d stepped into something real for the first time in my adult life. But now I realize it might be just as fake as the life I left behind.

I need some air, I say. You all should keep catching up.

I stumble from the kitchen and out onto the back porch. I’m pissed. And embarrassed. And I feel a little like I’m going to be sick. I’ve known all along that Nick was hiding something, but I never thought for a second that it would be something this huge. How do I even process this?

My eyes flick longingly toward my car, and I ache to hop in and drive away, but my keys are inside and there’s no way in hell I’m going back in there right now. Instead, I hurry across the yard to the stable. The horses haven’t even settled down from their last ride. I’m just strapping the saddle back onto Pom’s back when I hear Nick’s voice.

Clara! he calls.

I swing up into the saddle. It’s already twilight, and the last of the light is fading fast, but I need to be alone somewhere. To think about what all this means. I was supposed to be getting married tomorrow. Instead, I just had sex with a prince masquerading as a cowboy. And just when I thought my life couldn’t get any more confusing.

Nick has spotted me. He’s striding across the yard now, still calling my name, but I ignore him. I give Pom a squeeze with my heels and ride off down one of the nearby trails.

Clara! Nick calls once more from behind me.

Let him call all he wants. He might be a prince, but this is one girl who’s not about to obey his orders.

Nicholas

Iglance over at Prince. I can catch up to her rather easily, I think. Make her see reason .

As I rush toward my horse, meaning to saddle him and chase her into the night, another thought enters my mind.

Let her go.

I stare at the horse for a long moment, almost willing the animal to tell me what I should do. But he only appears interested in the hay Clara has set out for him—he doesn’t pay me the smallest bit of attention.

I wait a few moments, still uncertain of the right course of action. I finally spin on my heel and make my way back to the house.

Sophia and Pax have made themselves comfortable in my kitchen, and while Pax looks nothing but amused, my sister seems to have an expression of concern on her face.

Is everything all right? Sophia asks. She seemed quite upset.

My gaze narrows for a moment as I watch Pax. I’ve never quite trusted the man, and nothing about that has changed, even if he did donate one of his kidneys to my father and save my sister’s life. Ms. Weaver and I have just had something of a misunderstanding. That is all.

Mm. Pax’s grin widens. Was it something about how you told her you were a cowboy and she just found out you were a prince? He laughs. Can’t tell you how many times that’s happened to me.

Sophia slaps at his shoulder, shooting him a look that might be a warning. Pax.

What? He laughs again. It’s good to see Nicky here has finally embraced that side of himself.

And what side of myself is that? I can’t help but glare at the man. Even if I might have softened a little toward him after it became clear that he and Sophia were going to make a go of their relationship, he still gets under my skin the way very few others have.

Pax shrugs. The one that’s willing to lie to a girl to get her in bed. It works, right?

Pax! Sophia’s eyebrows draw together. We spoke about this on the way here—

I know, I know. His smile turns a bit more sheepish. Sorry, man. I just can’t help myself.

Try. I take the chair across the table from the pair.

"But you are sleeping with her. A girl wouldn’t act like that if you weren’t."

My expression must give something away, because he turns to my sister.

I knew it. Pax grins, turning his gaze back to me. And it’s about fucking time. I’m telling you, man. Great sex will mellow you the fuck right out.

Pax… My sister rolls her eyes. Can we just…not.

Sorry. His grin widens as he takes his wife’s hand in his. Sorry.

I ignore the apology. As I said, Ms. Weaver and I have merely had a misunderstanding. I fold my hands on the table in front of me. And as I also said, she’s my employee. It would be highly inappropriate—

Inappropriate or not, Nick… My sister shakes her head. It’s very dark out there. Is it safe to ride?

She’s a good rider. I glance out the window behind them. Though I’m not entirely certain she knows the land well enough to ride in the dark. My stomach twists into a knot at the thought of Clara alone and lost in the darkness. Perhaps I should go and search for her, though I have no idea where she might have gone.

Sophia watches me for a moment. You like this woman.

I frown, saying nothing.

You don’t have to say it out loud. I can see it in your eyes. She turns to look out the window behind her before turning back to me. "We didn’t mean to get in the way of anything you’re doing out here,